The weaker gravity of the Moon causes lunar clocks to run slightly faster than clocks on Earth. The new software will allow future lunar missions to easily synchronize time between Earth and the Moon, reports Focus.
Chinese scientists have developed the world's first software for synchronizing lunar clocks with clocks on Earth. The researchers state that the new tool is publicly available for all countries. Synchronizing time between the Moon and Earth is of immense importance as the lunar race to establish the first settlements on our planet's satellite gains momentum. Therefore, a universal system for measuring time on Earth and the Moon is vital for future lunar missions. The research is published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics, reports Gizmodo.
The scientists created the LTE440 software, which takes into account the weaker lunar gravity and the Moon's movement in space to synchronize lunar clocks with terrestrial time.
Time on the Moon flows differently than on Earth. Einstein's general theory of relativity showed that the passage of time depends on gravity and motion, and time slows down where there is stronger gravity.
The Moon has weaker gravity than Earth, resulting in a slight difference in time between them. Time on the Moon passes faster than on Earth, with a difference of 58 microseconds every 24 hours. This may seem insignificant, but over time this difference accumulates, which can affect navigation and communication on the Moon.
Modern spacecraft use systems similar to GPS. These systems calculate position by accurately measuring the time it takes for a radio signal to travel from a satellite to a receiver. A tiny error in time can shift the landing module's position by several kilometers.
Currently, lunar missions exchange data with Earth using Coordinated Universal Time. It is expected that the number of flights to the Moon will increase in the near future, necessitating a new method of measuring time to ensure greater accuracy.
The new software uses precise data on the Moon's movement to track any changes in the time difference between Earth and its natural satellite. The scientists input this data into the software, allowing users to compare the time difference between Earth and the Moon at any given moment.
LTE440 automates the complex calculations underlying the determination of the time difference between Earth and the Moon. The scientists say that their software allows for perfect synchronization of lunar clocks with terrestrial ones. The accuracy of lunar time measurement remains within nanoseconds even when predicting 1,000 years into the future. This enables users to instantly synchronize Earth and lunar clocks, eliminating the need for manual complex calculations as space agencies prepare for long-term lunar habitation.
